The Search for Human Life
In the Maze of Retail Stores

By

Michelle Higgins Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated May 6, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET

When Jonathan Gordon went shopping at a Macy's in New Jersey for a vacuum cleaner recently, he couldn't find anyone to answer his questions. After a 10-minute search, he solved his problem by standing in the aisle and shouting, "Is there anybody here who can help me?"

Finally, a staffer appeared -- who couldn't tell him anything he couldn't already read on the box.